Embedded National Coordinator, Climate Adaptation and Protected Area Initiative – Belize

Embedded National Coordinator, Climate Adaptation and Protected Area (CAPA) Initiative – Belize

1.  Introduction

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning, independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 200 people come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in more than 100 countries.

The CAPA Initiative seeks to promote natural solutions to strengthening climate resilience and protecting biodiversity in and around Protected Areas and critical landscapes in the Global South. The initiative’s intervention sites cover marine, coastal, and terrestrial ecosystems and landscapes in Belize, Fiji, and the Greater Virunga and Kavango-Zambezi landscapes. The CAPA Initiative is jointly implemented with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Africa and the Wildlife Conservation Societies (WCSs) of Fiji and Belize.

The WCS in Belize is an international non-government organization committed to working with communities, government, and other partners to safeguard Belize’s biodiversity and natural resources through integrated land- and seascape management underpinned by applied research. The WCS has long been at the forefront of marine conservation in Belize and has a history of providing technical and scientific support for over 30 years (WCS Belize > Home).

2.  The Position

The Embedded National Coordinator will provide coordination support for IISD, WWF, and WCS’s new CAPA Initiative. The successful candidate will support the management and coordination of in-country activities of the 3-year initiative—activities that will be implemented by IISD and WCS in Belize. This includes general programmatic, administrative, and communications support for in-country-specific activities. The successful candidate will be part of an in-country team and will liaise and work closely with IISD’s global team and IISD's implementing partner, WCS. The Embedded National Coordinator is expected to build and facilitate ongoing relationships with the local partner organizations in Belize implementing the CAPA Initiative. The candidate should be a highly motivated self-starter with a genuine interest in working for a sustainable future.

3.  Reporting

The Embedded National Coordinator will report to the Technical Country Lead within IISD’s Resilience Program. On a day-to-day basis, the Embedded National Coordinator will work closely with staff at WCS, based in Belize.

4.  Responsibilities

The successful candidate’s key areas of responsibility will include but not be limited to:

Project coordination and implementation (70%)

• Support the management and coordination of in-country activities of the 3-year CAPA Initiative, implemented by IISD and WCS in Belize.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the CAPA-Belize Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework, including facilitating the design, implementation, and coordination of MEL activities, such as indicator development, data collection, and training sessions with the WCS-Belize team and partners, with the close support of IISD’s MEL Expert.

• Support the monitoring of consultants’ and subcontractors’ work based on their Terms of Reference.

• Liaise and work closely with IISD’s Technical Country Lead, the IISD global team, and IISD's implementing partner, WCS, on the CAPA Initiative’s country-specific activities, including:

• Tracking progress and supporting the delivery of in-country implementation activities.

• Supporting and contributing to the organization and delivery of workshops, meetings, dialogues, and other events of various sizes.

• Supporting and contributing to the organization and implementation of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) related activities.

• Coordinating with in-country partners and stakeholders.

• Supporting in-country outreach and communication activities.

• Identifying, engaging with, and coordinating local consultants and grantees.

• Participating in biweekly meetings with IISD’s Technical Country Lead.

• With input from IISD’s Technical Country Lead, create and manage relevant work plans, milestones, deliverables, and budget.

• Support requests for proposals, quotations, specification sheets, and evaluation reports for the procurement of goods and services and ensure all local procurement is in accordance with IISD financial and procurement guidelines, as well as national regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Support the management and administration of payments locally (in Belize), including receiving and handling cash disbursements and assisting with reconciling receipts and invoices.

• Contribute to the preparation of narrative and financial reports to the funder.

• Provide updates internally and externally about project progress, potential barriers, and proposed solutions.

• Respond to ad hoc requests for country-specific project and partner coordination activities.

Communication and Outreach (~30%):

• Provide meeting and workshop management support, including note-taking, invitations, agenda development, attendance, recordings, and follow-up activities.
• Participate in the planning and organization of in-country workshops, programs, and other initiatives hosted or facilitated by the initiative.
• Help prepare website and social media content related to the CAPA initiative in Belize for IISD’s communication team.
• Support the design and delivery of annual global cross-site learning events.

5.  Deliverables

Specific deliverables will be determined monthly based on a performance agreement with the Embedded National Coordinator and the Technical Country Lead at IISD.

The Embedded National Coordinator will submit monthly progress reports using a provided template detailing the following:

• Work activities and deliverables completed during the reporting period.
• The impact of work activities from prior reporting periods.
• Observations, potential challenges, and emerging lessons.
• A work plan for the upcoming reporting period, including expected timelines and deliverables. This work plan will be reviewed and amended if needed prior to being approved by IISD’s Technical Country Lead.

6.  Qualifications

The Embedded National Coordinator should possess the following qualifications:

Qualifications (Essential)

• A post-secondary degree in a relevant field of the social or natural sciences (e.g., political science, conservation, gender studies, MEL, geography, sociology, economics, ecology).
• Availability to travel domestically and internationally.

Knowledge and Experience (Essential)

• A minimum of 3+ years of experience in project coordination of development programming; a focus on nature-based solutions, climate change adaptation, conservation, gender equality issues, and/or MEL would be considered an asset.

• Experience developing and managing work plans, budgets, and milestones.

• Experience developing and managing MEL frameworks and associated tools and data sets.

• Demonstrated ability to report against targets and collect data against defined indicators for progress reporting.

• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office applications, and experience in handling web-based communications and management systems.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, multi-project environment.

Skills (Essential)

• Demonstrated organizational and planning skills, including an ability to coordinate meetings and events.

• Good communication skills and ability to work interactively with stakeholders.

• Fluent in written and spoken English.

• Analytical capacity and ability to become familiar with new topics quickly.

Behavioural Competencies (Essential)

• Results-focused, able to work quickly and accurately to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of the results.

• Strong interpersonal skills, able to work comfortably across different cultures, be inclusive and positive, and communicate effectively.

• A motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and manage and prioritize multiple tasks.

Location: Belize City

Term: Full-time (Contractual)

Duration of assignment: 12 months, with a possible extension up to 30 months.

Remuneration: The estimated remuneration for this position depends on experience and qualifications.  Consultants will be paid monthly upon submission of the monthly report. In addition, local transportation reimbursement can be arranged as per the project policies and guidelines.

Start date: As soon as possible

Closing date: September 15, 2023, at 4:00 PM CST

All submissions must be in English.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR

• A CV (no longer than two pages)
• A one-page letter of motivation

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Belize.

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for one year.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQ+, to apply for the position.

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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